PNoy's sister to play tour guide for ADB delegates

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines - The government is touting this week's Asian Development Bank events in Manila as the country's coming out party. So it's rolling out the red carpet to make sure the ADB delegates come back to invest, hold more conventions or just spend their vacations here.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said even President Noynoy Aquino's older sister Ballsy Aquino-Cruz is playing tour guide to spouses of ADB delegates during the 4-day event.

"We have a very interesting program for them and for their companions and spouses...Ballsy Aquino-Cruz has kindly agreed to host a very expensive program that will be made available to their companions, including visits to Malacanang, various tourist sites, various markets, even outside Manila such as places as Batangas and Tagaytay," he said, on an interview with ANC's Business Nightly.

The local business community is also chipping in to make ADB delegates experience Filipino warmth and hospitality.

Purisima said SGV founder Washington Sycip has asked 9 of the country's most powerful families to host dinners for key delegates. An idea, Purisima says, he got from when the Philippines hosted the APEC Summit in 1996.

"Normally, when you visit a country as a foriegner, you feel it. There are things that are hard to explain, need not come from words. But the way people behave, the way markets behave, the sense of optimism can be seen in everyone," Purisima said. - ANC

Catch the full interview with Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima this Thursday (May 3), 9 p.m. on ANC Business Nightly.